Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. . . When we talk about the Caribbean, a few islands seem to always become the well-deserved queens of the show. However, the island of Fidel Castro or the resorts with wristbands could have a competition that has begun to emerge in recent years in the tourism scene. Like a song from The Jacksons 5, the ABC islands, the westernmost of the Lesser Antilles made up of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao they are already beginning to become a must on any Caribbean cruise and the most promising destinations. Do you want to get to know the ABC islands better?
Aruba
Aruba's Baby Beach, the first of the ABC islands
The one known as Happy island It is located 15 kilometers off the coast of Venezuela and is beginning to emerge as one of the Caribbean's favorite islands for cruise ships. Owned by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba is the smallest of the ABCs but also one of the most beautiful.
Your capital, Oranjestad (Orange City, in honor of the monarch Guillermo de Orange), is a city of little more than 26 thousand inhabitants famous for one of the most famous carnivals in the whole Caribbean and a colonial architecture that, despite being less picturesque than that of Curaçao, evokes the Dutch charm combined with the colors of the Caribbean. Examples of this heritage can be found in Main Street or Royal Plaza, its military fort being one of the great attractions. In turn, just 2.5 kilometers from the city is Aruba's international airport, the Reina Beatrix.
The best starting point before entering an island whose charm is spread throughout its corners. The rockier north coast is home to everything from a famous natural pool, Kadi, to organic aloe vera farms, one of the most popular products on the island. In addition, any tour through the center of the island passes through the Arikok National Park, composed of volcanic formations that contrast with the blue of some paradisiacal beaches that we can find in the south.
Palm Beach or Eagle Beach, the latter considered on more than one occasion as the most beautiful beach in the worldThey are turquoise paradises surrounded by coconut trees that will delight divers. For its part, the famous Baby Beach It responds to such a curious name with clear waters that barely exceed 5 meters in depth.
Bonaire
Photography: Goboogo
The easternmost of the ABC islands, Bonaire, is pure tropicalism. In fact, its international airport is called Flamingo and its capital, Kralendijk, means Coral Reef in Dutch and Beach in Papiamento, the native language. A "beach" with colonial architecture and restaurants serving seafood stews whose nearby klein bonaire island it is already a preview of that diving and snorkeling paradise that the island itself represents.
And if there is one thing Bonaire stands out for, it is because of its hundreds of options for lovers of marine fauna: the Bonaire National Marine Park is considered one of the best diving spots in the world thanks to species that range from moray eel to parrotfish to sea turtles. To this should be added the experience of a good kayaking session through its clear water mangroves or a morning of tanning in one of its 22 wonderful beaches (especially distributed along the west coast of the island) among which 1000 Steps stand out, No Name (if this name does not evoke paradise ...) or Pink Beach, with pink sands.
History buffs will also find a piece of the island's past by touring slave houses, also known as obelisks, which still rest the colors of the Dutch flag in front of a sea now calm.
Possibly the most complete of the ABC islands.
Curaçao
The colors make up the best hallmark of the brand new Curaçao, an anchor point for numerous cruise ships that sail the southern Caribbean and whose capital Willemstad, is a charming city of African, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch origins divided into two districts: Punda (famous for its floating market) and Otrabanda. Two neighborhoods joined in turn by the Queen Emma Bridge, which crosses the Bay of Santa Ana and is considered the only revolving wooden bridge in the entire planet. In the capital we can not only delight in the fusion of cultures (special mention of its yellow synagogue) but also with colors that highlight the facades of its houses, its many forts or museums focused especially on the past of African slavery, being the Kura Hulanda the most famous of all.
A first aperitif complemented by the many charms of an island whose great highlight natural are the herd caves, a system of caves discovered when the sea level falls and in which corals with impressive stalagmites coexist. Rock art invades Christoffel National Park while natural parks such as Shete Boka or Central Curaçao Underwater Park become diving meccas.
Regarding the beaches, Curaçao has some as pleasant as Kenepa, Cas Abou or, especially, Klein Curacao, an island located to the southwest of main turned into a paradise of lonely lighthouses, superlative blue beaches and secret corners that will delight the most adventurous visitors.
And you. Which of the ABC islands would you choose?